25 



The chrysalis is green, with several red dots ; it is very gibbous in the 

 middle, and attenuated like a boat in front ; it is attached to the tail on a 

 perpendicular branch, and fastened with a loose silken thread round the 

 middle of the body. 



The duration of the three stages of egg, caterpillar, and chrysalis must be 

 limited to something less than two months ; as the remainder of the year is 

 passed in the perfect state. 



The butterfly emerges from the chrysalis state at the end of July or in 

 August, continues on the wing till the cold weather sets in, and then retires 

 to its winter quarters. It does not, however, remain in them very long, 

 and may often be seen sporting about in some flowery nook in the first sunny 

 days of February and March, looking more like the petals of the primrose 

 over which it hovers, floating on the breeze, than a living creature 



"As if Flora's breath, by some transforming power, 

 Had changed a flower into a butterfly." 



Sometimes this tenant of the garden and the flower bed, may be seen, like 

 infancy by the side of age, sporting on the front of some old grey rock, or 

 settling on the wild thyme, or on the golden furze, as its wings vibrate 

 with a quickness that will dazzle the sight. 



" Behold again with saffron wing superb 

 The giddy Butterfly. Releas'd at length 

 From his warm winter cell, he mounts on high, 

 No longer reptile, but endowed with plumes, 

 And through the blue air wanders ; pert alights, 

 And seems to sleep, but from the treacherous hand 

 Snatches his beauties suddenly away, 

 And zigzag dances o'er the flowery dell." 



Favourite Village. 



Mouffet was the first English author to figure and describe it, which he 

 did in 1633. 



Petiver in 1717, called it " Papilio sulphureus" adding "it is amongst 

 the first to appear in the spring and again in the autumn/' and of the female 

 says " this being so nearly white often escapes as common." 



Abroad it has an extended range, being found all over Europe and Asia, 

 in Worth Africa, and even in California. 



It has not been observed in the Isle of Man, and but once in Scotland ; in 

 Ireland it is common at Killarney and in Connemara ; in England it is very 

 generally distributed and common, but is rather a southern than a northern 

 species, being restricted in its range by the food -plant, which does not extend 

 into the more northern counties. In 1861 my father did not see a specimen 

 the whole season, and it was also scarce for two or three years afterwards. 



